US9637207B2 - Tool and method for cleaning surfaces subsea - Google Patents

Tool and method for cleaning surfaces subsea Download PDF

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Publication number
US9637207B2
US9637207B2 US13/575,479 US201113575479A US9637207B2 US 9637207 B2 US9637207 B2 US 9637207B2 US 201113575479 A US201113575479 A US 201113575479A US 9637207 B2 US9637207 B2 US 9637207B2
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Prior art keywords
cleaning
tool
flat
face
cleaned
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US20120317750A1 (en
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Tor Mikal Ostervold
Sten Terje Ostervold
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B59/00—Hull protection specially adapted for vessels; Cleaning devices specially adapted for vessels
    • B63B59/06—Cleaning devices for hulls
    • B63B59/08—Cleaning devices for hulls of underwater surfaces while afloat
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/02—Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
    • B08B3/024—Cleaning by means of spray elements moving over the surface to be cleaned
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B2203/00—Details of cleaning machines or methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B2203/02—Details of machines or methods for cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
    • B08B2203/0229—Suction chambers for aspirating the sprayed liquid

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to cleaning of subsea surfaces, that is submerged or immersed surfaces. More specifically, the invention relates to tools and methods for cleaning of subsea surfaces without contaminating the surrounding water.
  • the objective of the present invention is to provide tools and methods that are beneficial with respect to the above mentioned demand.
  • the invention provides a tool for cleaning surfaces subsea, comprising
  • the tool is a far simpler construction than the existing tools described above, the simplest embodiments are without nozzles for spray of high pressure cleaning fluid or other specific means for cleaning, such as brushes, which embodiments are particularly beneficial for removal of soft marine growth and where investments must be kept at a minimum. Other embodiments are beneficial for more or all of the parameters discussed above.
  • cleaning face means surface or side of the tool to be held against the surface to be cleaned. Said face is flat or more convex than the surface to be cleaned is concave, in order to be held tightly or at a controlled gap distance from said surface.
  • the openings or channels allows tight placement on the surface to be cleaned, but for most embodiments a gap is provided by distance means such as rollers, wheels, balls or brushes with adapted stiffness, which stiffness preferably increases stepwise or gradually toward the cleaning face.
  • the suction outlet is preferably but not necessarily coaxial or central in or on the cleaning face.
  • a supply line of high pressure cleaning fluid, preferably water, is preferably arranged coaxial and central for tools having cleaning nozzles that rotate, with a high pressure swivel for rotation included.
  • Rotation of nozzles, discs and brushes are preferably achieved by momentum or flow energy from injection nozzles, by directing the nozzles inclined or obliquely inwards, inside the circumference of the cleaning face and directed at an angle from the supply pipe or an arm rotatably connected to it.
  • Alternative means for rotation are for example based on a possible turbine in the suction flow, the turbine hydraulically or mechanically driving the rotatable parts, or a motor.
  • Nozzles can be arranged to rotate on a rotatable disc.
  • the cleaning face preferably comprises flat surface inside the periphery, preferably circular symmetric, such as a flat ring shape.
  • the flat surface provides underpressure and suction effect of the tool toward the surface according to the venturi effect, due to low static pressure in the flow.
  • the suction flow must be larger than the possible high pressure injection jet flow, in order to maintain suction effect of the tool.
  • the suction flow rate is 1.5 times or more than the jet flow rate. Due to the flat surface, providing improved suction effect, the ratio suction flow rate/jet flow rate can be lower than for related prior art tools.
  • the flat ring shaped surface inside the periphery is larger than the edge of the cup according to WO 2009/142506, that is wider than 2 mm, 5 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm or 50 mm.
  • Said ring shaped surface is preferably without any disturbing jet flows/cleaning nozzles, so that the holding effect of said ring shaped surface is not disturbed and a maximum of cleaning effect and ease of moving is maintained.
  • Cleaning nozzles are preferably arranged only inside said flat ring shaped surface in order not to disturb the holding effect of said flat ring shaped surface, and preferably nozzles are not directed so as to disturb the in substance laminar flow under said flat surface.
  • the tool of the invention may include any feature as described or illustrated here or elsewhere, in any operative combination, said combinations are all embodiments of the invention.
  • the invention also provides a method for cleaning surfaces subsea, using a tool according to the invention, distinguished by the steps:
  • the tool comprises a convenient handle or fastening.
  • the invention also provides use of the tool according to the invention, for cleaning surfaces subsea whilst collecting loosened debris and other material for further treatment.
  • a further embodiment of the invention is a method for verification of the quality, such as the paint quality of a surface, distinguished by cleaning the surface by operating a tool of the present invention, collecting the loosened material, analyzing said material in order to find out whether or not paint or corrosion products etc. are included in a significant quantity. If for example paint is loosened and thereby included in the collected material, the quality of the paint is insufficient. The quality of the paint can be measured as a function of the amount of paint in the collected material.
  • the tool and operating conditions are preferably standardized, but can be adapted specifically to specific surfaces.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a method of using a tool, according to the present invention
  • FIGS. 2-7 illustrate example embodiments of a tool according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 illustrating an example of a cleaning operation of the invention.
  • Visualised is a cargo vessel 1 at port, with a service vessel 2 , undertaking cleaning to the submerged surfaces of cargo vessel 1 , 3 .
  • the cleaning tool 4 is held by or assembled with a remotely operable vehicle (ROV) 5 , which is manoeuvred from the service vessel 2 .
  • the cleaning tool is manipulated to cover said surface with a cleaning face of the tool whilst said surface is cleaned. All loosened debris and other material are filtrated and hard waste collected when its comes onboard the service vessel 2 . Filtration, UV-radiation and separation and collection of any poisonous material are some of the operations that can take place on the service vessel 2 .
  • ROV remotely operable vehicle
  • An upper horizontal line indicates sea level in the drawings.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a cleaning tool comprising a cleaning face 11 , a spacer frame 12 , a vacuum hose 13 , a suction nozzle 14 , a high pressure hose 15 , a high pressure inlet 16 , a high pressure low diameter swivel 17 , rotatable high pressure pipes 18 and high pressure nozzles 21 .
  • the figure illustrates, by arrows, how the cleaning tool operates, as the rotating fluid arms 18 are cleaning the surface 3 whilst dirt is sucked into the suction chamber 14 from where it is transported throughout the vacuum hose 13 to the service vessel 2 for further treatment. From outside of the tool, water 19 is sucked into the suction chamber and further throughout the vacuum hose.
  • High pressure cleaning fluid i.e.
  • the means for distance control is integrated as wheels or roller balls or similar on or into the cleaning face, not as a separate spacer frame 12 as illustrated as an example.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a tool with a cleaning face comprising a rotating disc 31 mounted at the lower rim of a suction hose 13 . All released debris is flushed from the high pressure nozzles 21 in an angle towards the centre of the disc 34 , where it is sucked through the vacuum hose 13 to the assisting vessel 2 for further treatment.
  • the angle of the jet nozzles 21 causes the disc 31 to rotate in addition to cleaning the submerged surface 3 .
  • the high pressure line for jetting cleaning fluid is preferably arranged in the suction line, with a central swivel.
  • the rotatable disc may include brushes on the cleaning face, preferably exchangeable brushes, so that harder brushes can be used for removing scale or other hard materials.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a basic embodiment of the tool of the invention, as it contains only a spacer frame 12 with wheels 41 and a suction hose 13 .
  • the tool is manipulated over an impure surface and debris is sucked up and transported through the suction hose for further treatment in the assisting vessel.
  • This embodiment is sufficiently effective for removal of soft marine growth from ship hulls, concrete structures and other submerged surfaces.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a tool with a disc 51 which include drilled holes enabling an even water transfer from the high pressure hose 15 to nozzles 21 mounted in the discs 51 .
  • the range of nozzles enables provides evenly cleaning of the surface 3 . Released debris and other material 6 is transported, through the suction hose 13 , to the service vessel 3 for further treatment.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a tool 100 having a rotating disc 61 with brushes 62 at its underside, the cleaning face 101 includes a flat region 103 that extends from a peripheral edge 104 to an inner region 102 .
  • the rotating disc with brushes is moved over the surface 3 to remove all unwanted materials 6 from the surface, which materials are then sucked up into the central opening of the disc 34 and further through the suction hose 13 .
  • Means for distance control are preferably included, such as integrated into the brushes by adapted stiffness and roller wheels or roller balls, as illustrated, in order to avoid jamming of the tool. Sliding of the tool 100 along the 5 surface is surprisingly easy as the friction is surprisingly low while the disc rotates and the suction effect by the venturi effect is surprisingly good.
  • the cleaning is surprisingly good.
  • rotation is achieved by a turbine in the suction line, operatively connected to the disc.
  • the suction line inlet of the tools of the invention comprises a seat for a turbine, such as on a shaft 10 connected to a rotating disc and/or nozzles.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a tool having a rotating disc 71 which is driven by a turbine/motor 70 .
  • This enables the disc/plate to rotate in either direction, as its cleaning jets are not the means for rotation.
  • the nozzles flushes the surface 3 with high-pressurised water.
  • all loosened fouling/material 6 is removed from the submerged surface, by the high-pressurised water jets and sucked into the suction in the middle 34 of the disc 71 . From there on, the fouling is sucked through the suction hose 13 for further treatment onboard the assisting vessel 2 .
  • the great advantage of this solution is that the cleaning is more efficient as the jets do not loose energy on rotating the disc, rather all nozzle energy is used for cleaning. Subsequently, less cleaning pressure and flow is needed and it is possible to control the discs rotation by controlling the motor/turbine that drifts the disc.
  • the turbine and rotating disc are preferably arranged to a common central shaft.
  • the tool, methods and use of the invention may comprise any operative combination of features as described or illustrated in this document, which combinations are embodiments of the invention.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
US13/575,479 2010-02-03 2011-02-03 Tool and method for cleaning surfaces subsea Active 2032-10-22 US9637207B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO20100172 2010-02-03
NO20100172 2010-02-03
PCT/EP2011/051521 WO2011095531A1 (en) 2010-02-03 2011-02-03 Tool and method for cleaning surfaces subsea

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20120317750A1 US20120317750A1 (en) 2012-12-20
US9637207B2 true US9637207B2 (en) 2017-05-02

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US13/575,479 Active 2032-10-22 US9637207B2 (en) 2010-02-03 2011-02-03 Tool and method for cleaning surfaces subsea

Country Status (13)

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US (1) US9637207B2 (enExample)
EP (1) EP2531401B1 (enExample)
JP (1) JP5926196B2 (enExample)
AU (1) AU2011212518B2 (enExample)
BR (1) BR112012019377B1 (enExample)
DK (1) DK2531401T3 (enExample)
ES (1) ES2682648T3 (enExample)
HR (1) HRP20181242T1 (enExample)
NO (1) NO2531401T3 (enExample)
NZ (1) NZ601415A (enExample)
PL (1) PL2531401T3 (enExample)
SG (1) SG182461A1 (enExample)
WO (1) WO2011095531A1 (enExample)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20210402443A1 (en) * 2018-05-03 2021-12-30 Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras Device for cleaning and polishing connections of underwater equipment

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EP2743173A1 (en) * 2012-12-11 2014-06-18 C-leanship Aps A submergible cleaning system
US9776219B2 (en) * 2013-01-17 2017-10-03 Raytheon Company Method and apparatus for removing biofouling from a protected surface in a liquid environment
JP2016530093A (ja) * 2013-09-04 2016-09-29 ジーアールディー フランマリーン ホールディングス ピーティーワイ リミテッド 船舶清掃システム
WO2016033678A1 (en) * 2014-09-04 2016-03-10 Whale Shark Environmental Technologies Ltd. Underwater surface cleaning and debris collection device
US9840313B2 (en) * 2015-09-22 2017-12-12 Sanuwave, Inc. Cleaning and grooming water submerged structures using acoustic pressure shock waves
BE1023691B1 (fr) * 2015-11-17 2017-06-15 Magotteaux International S.A. Procédé de surveillance des paramètres chimiques; système à cet effet; installation de traitement comprenant un tel système
US10342326B2 (en) * 2016-06-06 2019-07-09 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Underwater marine growth brushing mechanism with passive self-adjust for curved surfaces
CA3052566C (en) * 2017-02-08 2023-11-28 Koral Patent AS Apparatus for removal and collection of fouling from a dived structure and a method for using the apparatus
JP2019058905A (ja) * 2018-10-31 2019-04-18 ジーアールディー フランマリーン ホールディングス ピーティーワイ リミテッド 船舶清掃システム
CN110949637A (zh) * 2019-12-16 2020-04-03 上海宝冶工程技术有限公司 一种船体除漆机器人装置
KR102221796B1 (ko) * 2020-07-15 2021-03-03 한국해양과학기술원 부유식 선체 청소 플랜트
EP4450380A4 (en) * 2021-12-17 2025-10-15 Tas Global Co Ltd SHELL CLEANING BRUSH
NO20220801A1 (en) * 2022-07-15 2024-01-16 Ecosubsea As Tornado macrofouling collector

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DE2201758A1 (de) 1971-01-14 1972-07-20 Raubenheimer Johann Nicolaas Reinigungsvorrichtung
US4095378A (en) 1975-12-18 1978-06-20 Uragami Fukashi Device capable of suction-adhering to a wall surface and moving therealong
US4314521A (en) * 1976-11-04 1982-02-09 Trelleborg Marin Aktiebolag Method and apparatus in the treatment of underwater surfaces of fixed or floating constructions
GB2194136A (en) 1986-08-21 1988-03-02 John Peder Andorsen Underwater cleaning apparatus
US4838193A (en) * 1986-12-23 1989-06-13 Tak Josephus A M V D Scrubbing machine
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US5099535A (en) 1988-02-18 1992-03-31 Daniel J. D. Chauvier Cleaner for submerged surfaces
DE4221086A1 (de) 1991-11-06 1993-05-13 Dieter Albrecht Verfahren und vorrichtung zum beseitigen von material unterhalb des spiegels eines mediums
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WO2003059732A1 (en) 2002-01-17 2003-07-24 Schollen Hendrikus Andreas Pet Apparatus for inspecting and environmentally friendly mechanically/hydraulically cleaning of underwater surfaces of vessels, swimming pools, aquariums etc
US6896742B2 (en) * 2001-05-31 2005-05-24 Tennant Company Brushless scrub head for surface maintenance
DE202008010345U1 (de) 2008-08-04 2008-10-02 Pauly, Udo, Dr.-Ing. Vorrichtung zur Unterwasserreinigung von Oberflächen
EP2022714A1 (en) 2007-05-11 2009-02-11 Rodrigo Andrés Geraldo Seura Integral submarine maintenance system
WO2009142506A1 (en) 2008-05-19 2009-11-26 Oestervold Sten Terje Method and cleaning equipment for cleaning surfaces below water level
US8327787B2 (en) * 2009-05-29 2012-12-11 Seward Marine Services Inc. Rotating spray head and system for induced suction generation

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DE2201758A1 (de) 1971-01-14 1972-07-20 Raubenheimer Johann Nicolaas Reinigungsvorrichtung
US4095378A (en) 1975-12-18 1978-06-20 Uragami Fukashi Device capable of suction-adhering to a wall surface and moving therealong
US4314521A (en) * 1976-11-04 1982-02-09 Trelleborg Marin Aktiebolag Method and apparatus in the treatment of underwater surfaces of fixed or floating constructions
GB2194136A (en) 1986-08-21 1988-03-02 John Peder Andorsen Underwater cleaning apparatus
US4926775A (en) 1986-08-21 1990-05-22 Andorsen John P Device for cleaning surfaces, particularly in water
US4838193A (en) * 1986-12-23 1989-06-13 Tak Josephus A M V D Scrubbing machine
US5099535A (en) 1988-02-18 1992-03-31 Daniel J. D. Chauvier Cleaner for submerged surfaces
US4997052A (en) 1989-03-23 1991-03-05 Uragami Fukashi Device for moving along a wall surface while suction-adhering thereto
DE4221086A1 (de) 1991-11-06 1993-05-13 Dieter Albrecht Verfahren und vorrichtung zum beseitigen von material unterhalb des spiegels eines mediums
WO2002008547A1 (fr) 2000-07-24 2002-01-31 Habif Jacques Alexandre Robot nettoyeur de piscine a depression alimente en depression, et procede
US6896742B2 (en) * 2001-05-31 2005-05-24 Tennant Company Brushless scrub head for surface maintenance
WO2003059732A1 (en) 2002-01-17 2003-07-24 Schollen Hendrikus Andreas Pet Apparatus for inspecting and environmentally friendly mechanically/hydraulically cleaning of underwater surfaces of vessels, swimming pools, aquariums etc
EP2022714A1 (en) 2007-05-11 2009-02-11 Rodrigo Andrés Geraldo Seura Integral submarine maintenance system
WO2009142506A1 (en) 2008-05-19 2009-11-26 Oestervold Sten Terje Method and cleaning equipment for cleaning surfaces below water level
DE202008010345U1 (de) 2008-08-04 2008-10-02 Pauly, Udo, Dr.-Ing. Vorrichtung zur Unterwasserreinigung von Oberflächen
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Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20210402443A1 (en) * 2018-05-03 2021-12-30 Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras Device for cleaning and polishing connections of underwater equipment

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2013518761A (ja) 2013-05-23
HRP20181242T1 (hr) 2018-10-05
EP2531401B1 (en) 2018-05-09
ES2682648T3 (es) 2018-09-21
PL2531401T3 (pl) 2018-10-31
US20120317750A1 (en) 2012-12-20
JP5926196B2 (ja) 2016-05-25
NZ601415A (en) 2014-07-25
DK2531401T3 (en) 2018-08-13
BR112012019377A2 (pt) 2017-06-20
NO2531401T3 (enExample) 2018-10-06
AU2011212518A1 (en) 2012-08-23
EP2531401A1 (en) 2012-12-12
WO2011095531A1 (en) 2011-08-11
BR112012019377B1 (pt) 2021-03-16
AU2011212518B2 (en) 2016-07-21
SG182461A1 (en) 2012-08-30

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